Mikel Arteta acknowledged that Arsenal pulled off a remarkable feat with their impressive 3-0 triumph over Real Madrid, as Declan Rice’s dazzling free-kick skills left the reigning Champions League holders reeling.
Rice played a pivotal role in one of the most significant victories in the club’s illustrious history, delivering two stunning free-kicks during the second half of the first leg of the quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Mikel Merino added the third goal for Arteta’s side, bringing them closer to securing their first Champions League semi-final appearance since 2009.
This was a monumental moment for England midfielder Rice, who had never scored a free-kick in his professional career—spanning 338 matches—prior to his first thunderous effort that sailed past Real keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Furthermore, it marked Arsenal’s return to scoring directly from set-pieces after nearly four years, with their last coming from Martin Odegaard against Burnley in September 2021.
Gunners captain Odegaard was left incredulous as Rice completed his remarkable double, and Arteta shared his surprise.
“Declan has been incredibly determined as we have noted over the last few months that we haven’t scored a direct free-kick in three and a half years,” the Arsenal manager remarked.
“So, for him to score two goals of such quality within 12 minutes, particularly as a player who had never scored a free-kick before in his career, what are the odds?
“If there’s anyone who can pull it off given how clean he strikes the ball, it’s Declan. But executing it at such a high level against one of the world’s top keepers is simply amazing.“
This cathartic result came at a crucial juncture for Arsenal, who have faced a challenging season, trailing behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
The north London outfit currently finds themselves 11 points behind Liverpool, with the Champions League now their last opportunity this season to clinch their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020.
No one expected them to get the better of the 15-time European champions Real before the first leg.
Nevertheless, Arsenal will make their way to the Bernabeu for the return leg next week as strong favourites to advance to a semi-final showdown against either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa.
‘Magical Moments’
“Absolutely beautiful. I’m so proud of the team. I’ve never seen the stadium so vibrant,” Arteta expressed.
“For significant European nights, it’s essential to have big stadiums that generate atmosphere, alongside individual moments of magic, and tonight we certainly witnessed that. That’s the beauty of this sport.“
Arsenal famously eliminated Real in the last 16 while on their way to their only Champions League final in 2006.
Reproducing that journey to the final and ultimately winning the tournament for the first time would surely silence any doubts regarding Arteta, who has weathered criticism during his team’s inconsistent campaign.
However, the Spaniard, aware that his side has squandered substantial leads in the title race over the past two seasons, is not taking a victory for granted against Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded team.
“When you haven’t faced this team for two decades and haven’t had a proper run in this competition, you need to be ready to create your own history, and it’s on nights like this that you can do that. We achieved that, but we have so much more to deliver,” he added.
“This is another step in the right direction for the team, but we must replicate tonight’s performance. Now we head to the Bernabeu, which will be another challenge.
“I’ll relish this victory because we truly earned it. However, we need to improve even further in Madrid. We are just halfway through the tie, and there’s still much to be done.“
For Real to orchestrate an astounding comeback in the second leg, they’ll need to create a new chapter in their illustrious European history.
The Spanish giants have never overturned a three-goal deficit in a Champions League first leg, but Ancelotti is optimistic about their chances.
“There’s always a first time. The key thing to do is to give it a go together. The comeback starts tonight,” Ancelotti stated.
“Although the possibilities are slim, we must pursue it with full commitment and exert every effort. This is an opportunity to showcase our game.“
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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